S 1127 
.L6 
1918 
Copy 1 




baker:s 



i ACTING PLAYS 





ovjing Kjup 

^rice,25 Gents 9loYtdtX^5SS 



m\i^>. 



1^:^^ WALTER H ■ BAKER 8 CO -^ 

i^%vi{ 'BOSTON' )^/<i^^v. 




J1* U). Pinero's Plays 

Price, 50 e«nt» EacD 



Tin? A M A 7nNQ Farce in Three Acta. Seren nutlaa, At* f*> 
inCi nSnAjLVjnD males. Coetumett, modern; Menery, »ol 
dlfflcult. Plays a full eTeoing. 

THE CABINET MINISTER mftie!, nlne^'iemafes'. Co? 
tomes, modem society; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full eTeniug* 

nANHV niPIT Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, four fe- 
I/AHi/I 1/ivH males. Costumes, modern ; sceuery, two inte- 
riors. Plays two hours and a half. 

TUr P AV I ADH niirY comedy in Fonr Acts. Four males, 
inL UAI lAJTiU \l\fX:*A. ten females. Cost umea, modern; 
■oenery, two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening. 

UfC UnfTCr lU ADnVD comedy in Four Acts. Nine males, 
lUD nUUOEi in UAUEJV four females. Costumes, modem; 
scenery, three interiors. Plays a fall evening. 

TUr UnDDV UriDCI? comedy in Three Acts. Ten males, 
lllEi nUDDI nXjRtJtt five females. Costumes, modem; 
scenery easy. Plays two hours and a half. 

■niQ Drama in Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Coetames, 
IIVIO modern ; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full eveniug. 

I Afiv DAfTNTIlTITf Play in Fonr Acts. Eight males, seven 
Ju/li/I IH/UlvlirUIj females. Costumes, modern; so«n> 
ery, four interiors, not easy. Plays a full evening. 

our Acts and an Epilogue. 
Costumes, modem; scenery complicated. 



I FTTY I^''^!^^ ^ Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five 
LXil 1 I females. 
Plays a full evening. 

TUT MAPIQTIIATI? Farce in Three Acts. Twelve males, 
lllC if liWSliJ 1 IV/\ 1 d four females. Costumes, modem; 
•oenery, all interior. Plays two hours and a half. 



Sent prepaid on receipt of price by 

Salter ^* Paker & Company 

No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 



The Loving Gup 

A Play in One Act 



By 

ALICE EROWN 



PLEASE NOTICE 

The professional stage-rights in this play are strictly reserved. 
Amateurs may obtain permission to produce it privately upon 
payment of a fee of five dolFars (^5.00) for each performance, in 
advance. All payments and correspondence should be addressed 
to Norman Lee Swartout, 24 Blackburn Road, Summit, 
New Jersey. 



BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER. & CO. 
1918 






The Loving Cup 



CHARACTERS 

Doctor Brentwood. Miss Pride. 

John C. Timmins. Mrs. Peck. 

Hen Batchelder. Mrs. Haynes. 

Andrew May. Rosie. 

Mrs. Timmins. Jane. 

Miss Nettie Snow. Cynthia May. 
Miss Gill. 

As many other men and women as you like. Confirmatory 
or negative speeches, of no point in illustrating character, 
have been given to "a woman" indefinitely, to make the 
effect of a crowd and to allow the number of players to be 
elastic. 




Copyright, 191 8, by Alice Brown 

As author and proprietor. 



All stage and niov big picture rights reserved. 
See note on title page. 



JUL 26 1918 

d)Cl.D 50052 



PLEASE NOTICE 

The professional stage-rights in this play are strictly reserved 
by the author, to whom applications for its use should be ad- 
tiiL.sed in care of the publishers, Walter U. IJaker & Co., 
5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Mass. 



Attention is called to the penalties provided by the Copyright 
I^w of the United States of America in force July i, 1909, for 
any infringement of her rights, as follows: 

:i . 28. That .iny person who wilfully and for profit shall infringe any 
, vrighl secured by this Act, or who shall knowingly and wilfully aid 
nr ihet such infrintzcment, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
up. .11 conviction thereof shall he pimished by imprisonment for not ex- 
ceeding one ycir or by a fine <>f " ■' 1--^ than one hundred dollars, or both, 
at the discretion of the court 

Sec. 29 Th.at any person wlio, with fraudulent intent, shall insert or 
impress any notice ot Copyright rc(juired by this Act, or words of the 
same p'lrport, in or upon any uncopyrighted article, or with fraudulent in- 
tent sh ill remove or alter the copyright notice upon any article duly copy- 
righfeil sh.ill be guilty of a misdeme.inor, punishable by a fine of not less 
than one hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars. 






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The Loving Cup 



The time is a late afternoon in July, the place an open 
sward with neighboring trees, used for a picnic ground. 
A long picnic table of rough boards on tre,stles, c. 

(The Women, all save Cynthia and Miss Snow, 
enter the picnic ground. They are talking and laugh- 
ing, carrying baskets and round wooden boxes with 
bails (known of old as butter-boxes) containing the 
supper. Ro€iE and Jane are laden with festoons of 
maple leaves. Mrs. Peck carries a pail in each hand 
(for water from the spring). Miss Gill has a large 
spy-glass depending from her neck by a strap. She 
carries a basket, but from time to time sets it down 
and directs the glass wildly in search of birds. The 
others have accepted her hobby. When she an- 
nounces a discovery, they nod pleasantly without 
looking. Miss Pride carries a nipping looking 
basket covered with a snowy napkin, and as she walks 
studies desperately from a sheet of paper.) 

Mrs. Timmins (a large blonde woman exuding kind- 
ness from every pore). Who's got the table-cloths? 

A Woman. Here they be. 

Mrs. Timmins {to Rosie and Jane). You girls think 
you've made maple trimmin' enough? 

Rosie (a "sweet pretty" and natural girl). Slews 
of it. 

Jane {a thin, dark, clever girl who loves to use her 
tongue and her inquisitive mind. Shrewdly). Slews! 
That's Hen Batchelder's word. 



6 THE LOVING CUP 

RosiE (conscious and laughing). Hen Batchelder 
ain't got no pay tent on words. 
Jane. He's got a paytent on you. 

(They all laugh, and Rosie cuffs Jane prettily. The 
Women spread the table-cloths, solicitously making 
them match. Rosie and Jane pin the maple leaf 
festoons on the table-cloths in garlands. The 
Women stack up the baskets and boxes, set out 
glasses, bring out lemons for lemonade and are 
bustling and busy.) 

Mrs. Timmins (to a neighbor). D'you bring some o' 
your nice gold an' silver cake? 

Neighbor. No, I brought sponge. 

Another Woman (laughing). So'd I bring sponge. 

Another Woman. So'd I. 

Mrs. Timmins (laughing unctuously and so making 
her words void of offense). Well, if I didn't know 
better'n to bring sponge-cake to a picnic, I'd give up 
beat. Men-folks have to be starved out 'fore they touch 
that. 

Another Woman. I know it. Ain't it queer ? Give 
men- folks a rich heavy cake that's fell an' plum sunk to 
the bottom, an' they think they're made. 

Rosie (in impulsive betrayal). Hen Batchelder says 
if he had his way he'd feed sponge-cake to the pigs. 

Mrs. Timmins. John C. says it's no better^n sawdust. 
Says you can have your sponge-cake for all him if he can 
set down to hot doughnuts an' cheese. I brought 
crullers — Aunt Nancy's receipt. 

Miss Gill (a thin, bird-like person, wandering vaguely 
about and looking through her glass into the trees). 
Seems if that was an indigo buntin'. Don't you think 
that's an indigo buntin', girls? 

Jane (eagerly). When's the men-folks comin'? 

A Woman. Soon's they've raked up. 

Another Woman. Goin' to bring their fiddles, ain't 
they? * . 

Another Woman. Yes, but they ain't goin' to 



^I^§"^^l^' 



Mil LOVING CUP 






LU.ih^m; iiiCii tiw^..-. i ,.i.. .vlj^^ -•',•-> ^ ^ ^v,U ...all U> 

ln>v> to se' down an eat picnic stuff in July, you've ^ot to 
take us as we be." 

Mrs. Timmin.S. Ccilam. li^ a kiiul oi a queer lime 
for a picnic, middle o' the busiest month, liut I says to 
lohn C, " If the ladies of this town have made up their 
inind^ to present their old doctor with a silver cup on his 
f iity-tiflh birthday, an' his ])irtlKl,'\ <-Mni«^< in Jnlv. 
you goin' to do? " 
\NOTHER Woman. That's right. What you goin' 

to do? 

Mi < 1 .. \^an Amazon of (jrcat physical strength and 

r the county as the master of her house). 

.Samwel says to me, " You women have got up this rink- 

' -J can carry it out yourselves. You've chipped 

ill the cup, an' you can present it. I'm goin* 

V hay." But Isays to him, "Samwel Peck, 

v6u d (ui.^lii to be ashamed. Here's Doctor that's stood 

by us all, lifty year an' over, eveiy trouble we've had, an' 

the old picnic place ain't a (juarter of a mile from your 

, an* if you ain't there I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll 

cuiiic after ye." 

A Woman. Wha'd he say? 

Mrs. Peck. Said he'd come. W'hat'd ye s'pose he'd 
say? 

( They all lauyli.) 

Jank (stopping H'ork and talking in an eager, high- 
-"^'ed haste). What do you think Rosie says? She 
her father's told Doctor we're goin' to give him 
the silver cup, an' now it's all out, an' Rosie's mother 
f> I '- so about it she ain't comin' at alj. An' her father 
I'jci.^ so, he ain't neither. 

Mrs. Timmins. Now if that ain't a shame. {To 
RosiE.) I wisht I'd known it, an* known your mother'd 
took it so hftrd, I'd told her to come along an' make the 
best on't, an' bring your father, too. 

Mrs. Haynes (a shrezvd little woman who has ac- 
cuniuhifed axioms). Accidents happen in the best o' 
families, Gramma Hart used to say. 

RosiE (impetuously, and laughing a little, to cover her 



8 THE LOVING CUP 

mortification). Mother give it to him good. She sai 
his tongue's hung in the middle an' wags both ways. 

Mrs. Timmins (sympathetically) . How was it, Rosie? 
He didn't go an' let it out a-purpose, I'll warrant ye. 

Rosie (earnestly, justifying " father "). Why, father'd 
been down to Mill Village, buyin' standin' grass, an' when 
he come back, he an' mother together, they met Doctor 
an' father hollered out to him, " Well, Doc, how'd you 
like your silver mug?" Mother tried to hush him up, 
but he only said, "What you pinchin' me for?" She 
says she was so tried she could ha' pushed him out the 
wagon. 

Mrs. Peck (ominously). I guess 'f 't had 'a' been 
Samwel he wouldn't ha' heard the last on't. 

Another Woman. What'd Doctor say ? 

Rosie. Why, mother says Doctor didn't take no notice. 
Didn't seem to hear. 

Miss Pride (tall, angular, spectacled, severe of dress, 
devoted to correct deportment and speech. Solemnly, 
looking up from her manuscript) . You can't tell what 
Doctor hears. He hears what is desirable and no more. 

Another Woman. No, you can't tell what Doctor 
hears. 

Another Woman. No, I guess you can't. 

(They all shake their heads and nod in solemn con- 
firmation. ) 

Jane (again with her air of shrewd interest in news). 
D'you know Cynthy May's comin' to the picnic? She's 
goin' to be late. Said she'd got to be, but / think it's 
because she feels so bad, an' she thinks we'll find it out. 
But she's comin'. 

Mrs. Timmins (in warm defense). Well, I dunno 
why she shouldn't come to the picnic, the poor lamb! 
She give her part to the presentation cup, an' Doctor 
sets by her as if she was his own. 

Jane (knowingly). Yes, but she an' Andrew don't 
speak. An' he's her own husband, too ! 

A Woman. That's true enough. Still 

Jane. Seems awful queer if she comes without 
Andrew. An' if he comes too ! That'll be queerer. 



mwmfxf:^mmm 



THE LOVING CUP 



^reprovingly). Now you hi 
Janie. Don't you take up habits of idle talk. If Cynthy 
an' Andrew don't speak, it's their business. 'Tain't ourn. 

Mrs. PiiCK {nodding portentously). If anybody'd hit 
anybody over the head, Meli^sy Timmins, you'd say 
mebbe there was good cause. 

Mrs. Timmins. Well, mebbe there would be. There 
'most always is. An' when it comes to Cynthy an' An- 
drew an' their fallin' out, there must be cause, if we but 
knew the rights on't. 

Janl (eagerly). Why, we do know. Rosic's father 
was there when it happened, an' he told Uncle Seth an' 
I'ncle Seth told Hiram True 

RosiE (indignantly). Now, Janie, you stop. If 
fath«r sjjnke nf il, he hadn't ought to, an' so mother told 
him. .in' he .said he wisht he nevcr'd opened his head. 

Mrs Timmins. That's right, Rosie. We don't want 
to hear no tales. 

Miss Gill (rushing across the scene). There's :i 
downy woodi)Ccker! See 'f you don't think that's a 
downy woodpecker. 

Mrs. Timmins. So all 1 .^ay i>, we keep our spoons 
out o' Cynthy's an' Andrew's dish. There ain't an indi- 
vidual thing that ain't made wuss by turnin' on't over 'n' 
over. 

Mk.^. r.-ck (emphatically). So I say. What's every- 
body's business is nobody's, an' likely to run into the 
L,'round. 

Mrs. 11avni:s. What ye don't tell ye can't be hung for. 
So Gramma Hart used to say. 

Mrs. Timmins. Doctor himself says this neighbor- 
hood's freer'n any he ever see from backbitin' an' scandal. 

Jane. Why, this ain't backbitin'. It's just tellin' how 
'twas. That day Rosie's father went in to Andrew's. 
(Unconsciously the Women gather breathlessly round 
and listen.) 'Twas to talk about the new piazza An- 
drew's goin' to build. 

RosiE (as if contributing unwillingly). Father's goin' 

to haul the lumber. 

Jane. An' they were talkin' over how much lumber 
'twould take an' Andrew asked Cynthy whether she 



THE LOVING CUP 



wanted the piazza roof to go all the way or^iirapen 

platform, an' Cynthy couldn't tell. 

Mrs. Timmins. 'Course she couldn't. Dear lamb! 
She's so gentle, she's afraid to death to speak, for fear 
'twon't be what somebody else wants. 

Jane (with relish). An' Andrew had one o' his odd 
spells come on, an' he says, " Cynthy, you've got to tell. 
I don't speak another word to you till you do." 

A Woman. What'd Cynthy say? 

Another Woman. Yes, what'd she say? 

Another Woman. Hurry up, Jane. Cynthy may 
be here any minute. 

Mrs. Timmins (unwillingly). Well, if we've gone so 
fur as this — what'd Cynthy say? 

Jane. Why, Rosie's father says she turned white as 
a sheet an' went right into the kitchen an' se' down. 

A Woman (nodding knowingly). It's the fust odd 
spell he's had sence they're married. That's truth an' 
fact. 

RosiE. Mother says she'll warrant Andrew'd no 
sooner said it than he thought 'twas the worst day's work 
he ever done. 

A Woman (nodding). But now he's said it, he won't 
go back on it. Andrew's as set as Rock Dunder. 

Another Woman. Poor Cynthy ! 

Mrs. Timmins. Poor lamb ! 

Another Woman. Well, there ain't no thin' to be 
done. 

Another Woman. Didn't Andrew say nothin' after 
he told her he wouldn't speak? 

Jane. Why, Rosie's father says Andrew turned white 
as the driven snow an' looked as if he'd drop through the 
earth. An' he says, " My God ! I wisht I never'd seen 
this day." (With relish.) " My God! " that's what he 
says. " My God ! I wisht I never'd seen this day." 

A Woman. When Cynthy heard that, why didn't she 
laugh it off? 

Another Woman. Mebbe she didn't ketch it, back 
there in the kitchen so. 

Another Woman. Cynthy ain't one to laugh things 
off. 



THE LOVING CUP 

..IR^TIMMINS {nodding). They go too d^pr 

MkS. Pi:cK {violently). Rosie, why didn't your father 
tell him he's a born fool, good wife as he's got an' only 
a year married, to kick over his dough dish like that? 

RosiE. Mother asked him, an' father said he wa'n't 
one to meddle nor make. 

Mrs. Timmins {withdrazving from the circle, zvhich 

then dissolves). Well, I guess the rest of us better not, 

neither. 

A Woman (adjusting a maple festoon). There! ain't 

the table ready ' 

Anotiii-r Woman {lo Mrs. Timmuns). You goni' 
to take out the victuals now? 

Mrs. Timmins. Why, no, seems if they'd be better 
on't where they be, till the men- folks come an' we've pre- 
"cntrd tlie cup. 

.,K.s. Haynks (laughing). That's so. Remember 
what Gramma Hart used to say : 

" To emmets an' flies 
Sweet trade is a prize." 

Mrs. Timmins. Soon's Nettie Snow comes with that 



cup 

Another Woman. Where under the sun is Nettie 
Snow? She must know the cup's got to be here 'fore 
Doctor comes to spy it. 

Jane (eagerly). Why, you know when Miss Snow 
went to Boston to get the cup, she said she made it in 
the way o' business too, an' clipped round an' looked at 
the fashions, an' she says our skirts are all too full an' 
too long an* she set up half the night last night to cut 
hers off an' take it in. 

A Woman (admiringly). If Nettie Snow ain't a 
born dressmaker there never was one. If she didn't 
keep on the clean jump, I dunno where we'd all be. 

Another Woman. Look as if we'd come out o' the 
ark, I guess. 

Rosie. There she is ! There she is ! 

Enter Miss Nettie Snow, slender, sanguine, and quite 
zvilling to accept middle age, save that she feels 



^^^^^^^m THE ^^^^H^^^H 

^FohUged to keep her clothes up to date. She has a 

K' tense, needle-like expression contrasting oddly with 

H. her furbelows, her challis dress made in almost a 

B caricature of fashion. In this ardent devotion to 

H her profession she wears flighty ragtags and floating 

H veils. They all surround her and begin chorusing, 

H "You got the cupf" "Where's the cupf" " Is't 

H in that bag? " 

Miss Snow {pleased with the importance of her mis- 
sion). Now, you let me get my breath. 

(RosiE and Jane take hands in excitement and dance 
round her.) 

RosiE. Get a move on. 

Jane {"catching on" to Rosie's authority) i Huh! 
that's what Hen Batchelder says. 

Rosie. I don't care 'f he does. Get a move on 1 Get 
a move on ! 

Miss Snow {deliberately opening her bag and enjoy- 
ing to the fidl the importance of her mission). I can't 
move no faster'n I can. 

A Woman. Is't a plain cup? 

Another Woman. Ain't it got chasin' on it? 

Another Woman. Has't got Doctor's initials? 

Miss Snow {apologetically). Well, no, 'tain't got 
his initials on't, nor the inscription, neither. 'Twas goin' 
to take a week to do 'em, an' I says, " Thursday's the day, 
an' Thursday we've got to have it, an' can't -you do no 
better'n that?" 

Mrs. Peck {disgustedly) . How long would it take 
'em to cut " M. L. B. from the Ladies of Ginseng Pond " ? 
Anybody'd think 'twas the whole alphabet from a to zed. 

Mrs. Timmins {anxiously). You beseeched 'em to 
do it, Nettie, now didn't you? You done all anybody 
could, I'll warrant. What'd they say? 

Miss Snow {with wrinkled brow, accounting for her- 
self). Why, they says, "You present it, an' then you 
fetch it back an' we'll mark it, free o' cost." 

A Woman {doubtfidly) . Seems if it ought to been 
marked. 



^■ii^^kMMmfM,isii^Mm 



THE LOVING CUP 



Mrs. Peck. Seems if anybody could ha* pitched right 
into 'em an' forced 'em to mark it, whether or no. 

A Woman {lugubriously) . Well, it's too late now. 

Miss Snow {driven beyond endurance). Now you 
look here, Susan Peck. I done the best I could, an' if 
you ain't satisfied 

Mrs. TiMMiNS {soothinijly). 'Coui>c yuu did, Nettie, 
'course you did. Couldn't nobody ha' done more. (Miss 
Snow takes out the cup and displays it anxiously. They 
cluster about and pass it from hand to hand and admire.) 
Ain't that a beauty ! 

Another Woman. Handsomest piece o' silver I ever 
set my eyes on. 

Another Wu.M A.N. ihrce handles, too! If that ain't 
the latest thing, I dunno what is. 

Miss Gill {rushing across, waving her hands trium- 
phantly). I've seen a finch!- I've seen a finch! 

RosiK {excitedly, looking off). Doctor's comin' ! 
Doctor's comin' ! 

Several Women {interrogatively). He ain't! 

Mrs. Timmins. Mercy ! an' here's his cup right out in 
plain sight. 

A Woman. Hide it away som'er's. 

Another Woman. We can't present it till the men- 
folks come. 

Rosn*. Hen P.ntchclder says 

(I/cr voice IS drowned by their cocklinq, "Here hide 
it!*' *' Under here!'* "No, under here!" Mrs. 
Timmins sets the cup on the table, snatches a napkin 
from her basket and throws it over cup.) 

Miss Snow {agitatedly to Miss Pride). Claris.sy, 
you got your speech ready? 

Miss Pride {rising and coming forward, her head 
held very stiff and her hands shaking in stage fright). I 
hardly know. I feel very peculiar. My knees feel weak. 

Mrs. Timmins {comfortingly). Why don't ye jest 
try it over? Let Rosie hold the paper an' see how't p^ocs. 

Miss Pride {agitatedly). How near is he? 

Jane {excitedly). Down by the willers. Tyin' his 



hor.^e. Give me the paper, Miss Pride. Give it here ! 
quick ! 

Miss i'KiiJK \^yit,idui(j iitr hiu l'aj>tr and iiuikimj a 
solemn how). Doctor Brentwood, we the undesigned, 
the ladies of Ginseng Pond 

Jane. Undersigned, not undesigned. 

Miss Pride {indignantly). I said undesigned. 

Jane. Un-(/rr-signed, not undesigned. 

Miss Pride. I said 

Mrs. TiMMiNS. There, there! Don'i b^uabble. What's 
one word, more or less? Go ahead, Clarissy. 

Miss Pride {with a caustic glance at Jane). In view 
of the fact that it is your birthday, and being desirous of 
signifying 

RosiE {jumping up and dozun in irrepressible excite- 
ment). Go ahead! he's 'most here. 

Miss Pride {clapping her hand to her heart and sink- 
ing to a convenient pail turned upside dozvn). I — I 

The words escape me. 

Mrs. TiMMiNS {excitedly). Why, it's all that about 
how he's stood by us an' kep' us well an' strong an* 
brought our child'en into the world an* kep' them well 
an' strong. I can't tell it as you did, Clarissy, in them 
elegant long words, but that's the gist on't. 

Jane. Here he is. 

Several Women. Here he is. 

Enter Doctor Brentwood. 

All {in a delighted chorus). PTiillo, Doctor! How 
de do, Doctor ! How de do ! 

Mrs. Ti:m]mins. Well, now you've come. Doctor, the 
picnic's begun. 

, Doctor {beaming and shaking hands). How*s every- 
body? Rosie, you don't need any iron nor garden 
flowers. Got pinies in your cheeks. Janie, how's that 
little sharp tongue? Fm going to snip off the end of it 
so's to keep it blunt. 

(RosiE hangs on his arm and Jane puts out her tongue 
a little to him in gay defiance. Miss Pride with- 
draws and cons her paper desperately at side.) 



Miss Gill (entering and approaching him with a 
solemn rapture on her countenance). Doctor, I've seen 
three new birds this day. I don't know their names no 
more'n the dead. 

Doctor. Good for you. Maybe they haven't got any. 
Name 'em for me. 

Mrs. Timmins. We thought we wouldn't take out the 
victuals till the men-folks come. 

A Woman. But now you've come 

Doctor. No, no. I can't eat. Haven't the appetite. 
Fact is, I came early to catch you women alone. I want 
to consult you. 

All {in broken chorus). What is it. Doctor? Any- 
body sick? 

Doctor. Yes, I've got two very sick patients, and it'll 
take all you women-folks to help me pull 'em through. 
Help me? 

Mrs. Timmins. Certain we will. Who is it, Doctor? 

A Woman. 'Taln't anybody in the neighborhood? 

Another Woman. No, we should ha' heard. 

Doctor. It's Cynthia May. 

All. Cynthy ? 

Miss Snow. Why, nothin's the matter with Cynthy. 

Jane. I see her this mornin', niakin' tarts, makin' 'em 
for the picnic. 

Doctor. Andrew, too. He's worse than Cynthia is. 

Mrs. Peck. Andrew's all right. He went by with 
the rake an' he looked strong as an ox. 

Doctor. Cynthia and Andrew are pretty badly off. 
/ can't help 'em unless you pitch in and give me a lift. 

Mrs. Peck. Andrew ain't had an accident in the field ? 

Mrs. Timmins. I guess if anything could break 
Cynthy up 'twould be that. 

Doctor {impressively). Cynthia and Andrew don't 
speak. 

All {in relief) . That all ? Oh, we knew that. 

Doctor. All? Don't you call it anything for a man 
to sit down at the table and eat the food his wife has 
cooked and not speak to her? Don't you call it any- 
thing for her not to dare to speak to him ? 

Mrs. Timmins. Well, that's jest the way Andrew is. 



Woman. Tliat's jest his way. 



Well. 



mighty 



Doctor, weu, it s a 

Mrs. Peck. So 'tis, Doctor, so 'tis, 'n' if 'twas 
Samwel, I'd break him of it, or I'd break his neck. 

Doctor. So you would, Susan Peck, so you would. 
But Cynthia can't. Cynthia wasn't made like you. She 
can't lift a barrel of flour and carry it from the store to 
the wagon. She's a little delicate thing, and weVe got to 
lend a hand. 

Mrs. Tim m ins. So I say. But how we goin' to? 

Doctor. Do you know what <lay this is? 

All (looking at one another guiltily and speaking con- 
fusedly). Why, yes, Doctor. Yes. Gne^< we do. 

Doctor. It's an anniversary. 

All. Yes ! yes ! 

Doctor. It's Cynthia's and Andrew's wedding day. 

All (disappointedly). Oh! yes! Why, yes, so 'tis. 

Doctor. They were married a year ago. It touched 
me to have them choose that day, because Cynthia re- 
membered it had something to do with me. You know 
you girls trimmed the meeting-house all up with flowers, 
and Cynthia came over to me an hour before the wedding, 
her hands full of syringa. " Doctor," says she, ** it's 
your birthday. I sha'n't ever forget that. Every time 
this day comes round, I shall say, * It's Doctor's birth- 
day and my wedding day.' " 

(Rosii-: begins crying softly, and Jane fiercely dashes 
at her own eyes with the back of her hand, as if she 
hated her ozvn tears.) 

Miss Snow (sentimentally, but screwing her face into 
a knot, as if she didn't recognize the feel of tears). Poor 
Cynthy ! little lovin' thing! 

Mrs. TiMMiNS. Dear lamb! 

Mrs. Peck (vigorously striding up and down). An- 
drew May'd ought to be trounced, an' I'd like nothin* 
better'n to do it. 

Doctor (wisely). Can't trounce folks into being kind. 

Mrs. Haynes (shrewdly). You can ketch more flies 
with molasses than you can with vinegar. Gramma Hart 
used to say. 



THE LOVING CUP I7 

Jane. There's the men-folks comin'. 

RosiE {chokingly). Yes, that's Hen Batchelder's 
^ laugh. 

Doctor. Now,^ou good women, what are you going 
to do for Cynthia? We haven't more than two minutes 
to decide it in. 

Mrs. Timmins. I guess anything we could do for 
her'd be done pretty quick. 

Doctor. There's just one thing. 

All. What is it? 

Doctor. Will you do it? 

All. 'Course we will. 

Doctor. Do it and not be sorry afterwards ? 

All. Yes ! yes ! yes ! 

Doctor {working them up more and more). IVe 
heard women can't hold their tongues. 

All. You see 'f we can't. 

Doctor. If I should give you a good big surprise, 
could you take it without hollering? 

All. Try it. Try it, Doctor. You just try. 

Mrs. Peck. Does the men- folks know? 

Doctor. It'll be more of a surprise to them than it is 
to you. 

{They nod, well pleased.) 

Mrs. Peck. Then you keep an eye on *em, an' if we 
don't take it better'n they do, we'll give up beat. 

Jane and Rosie {who have been watching on the out- 
skirts). Here's the men. 

Enter the " Men-folks " in clean white shirts and dark 
trousers. Three carry fiddles and bass viol. Hen 
Batchelder gives an embarrassed laugh as greeting 
to Rosie, met by an embarrassed one, from her. He 
hangs about her during the rest of the scene, picking 
a nosegay for her and presenting it clumsily. Mrs. 
Peck meets *' Samwel,"' a small, timid man, looks 
him over, turns him round and dusts him off 
generally. 

The Women.- PIullo! 



THE LOVING CUP 



HE MEN. Hullo, yerself! 

Mrs. TiMMiNs (to John C.)- Ii > '^i "'i'^ 1^^ 
dressed up, every one o* ye ! 

John C. (jovially). Didn't think we were goin''io 
picnic with the ladies 'thout puttin' on a clean shirt, did 
ye? 

Doctor. How are you, boys? Andrew, what's the 
matter with your hand? 

Andrew (a handsome young farmer who has uUnnlcd 
" oddity " and has not yet licked himself into shape. 
Gloomily). That ain't nothin'. I ripped a hole in it, 
sharpenin' the machine. 

Doctor (insisting on examining it). I don't call that 
done up very shipshape. I thought Cynthia could put 
on a bandage. I'm ashamed of her. 

Andrew. Tied it up myself. 

Doctor. More fool you. You couldn't get at it back- 
handed. Here, give me a hold. (Arranges the bandage.) 

Andrew (looking round anxiously). Where's ? 

Jane. Where's what? 

Doctor ( cheerftdly) . " Where's Cynthia ? " he means. 
Where is Cynthia, girls? 

Jane. There she is. 

Enter Cynthia, a gentle looking and beautiful young 
woman, carrying a basket. 

All (but Andrew). Hullo, Cynthy! 

Cynthia (seeing the Doctor at work on Andrew's 
hand, setting down her basket and running forward with 
a little cry). Oh! 

Doctor. All right, Cynthia, all serene. Cut his hand, 
that's all, nice clean cut. Didn't tell you, for fear you'd 
fret. 

Cynthia (wistfully, bending over the hand). You 
sure? 

Doctor. Sure he's O. K.? Yes, I am. There, An- 
drew. (Finishing the bandaging. Now beaming at 
them all). Well, girls, what we going to do first? 

Mrs. Timmins (looking about her inquiringly). W^ell, 
I say 




THE LOVING CUP ^9 

A Woman (confirmingly). So do I. 

All the Women. Yes, yes. , . . i 

John C. Sha'n't we fellers go to the spring and make 

the lemonade? . , . ., . , 

MrS-Timmins. No, we're gom' to have somethm 

^^%h''n^'c. Somethin' else? Oh! thought ye'd have 

that after supper. x t » i 

Hen Batchelder {hoarse with shyness), Le s have 
Virginny Reel 'fore supper, anyways. After I ve et my 
fill o' cake I'm too logy to go up an' down centre. 

RosiE {wild with gayety). Tore supper an after, 

^""hen (admiringly, as if everything she said amazed 
him by its splendor). You ain't been rakm hay. 

Mrs Timmins {embarrassed and much excited). 
Well now, folks-ladies an' gentlemen, 1 mean-some- 
thin's goin' to take place. Le's form ourselves m a kmd 
of a circle, so's't we can hear, an' Miss Pride will deliver 
the address. Glarissy Pride ! 

(Miss Pride comes agitatedly forward, hand on her 
heart. She despairingly thrusts the paper at Rosie, 
takes an attitude and clears her throat.) 

Doctor {taking c). Yes, there's going to be an 
address, and your old Doctor's here to deliver it. 

Mrs. Timmins {wildly). Doctor, you wait, halt a 
minute. Only you wait. Miss Pride's got a few words 

"^ Doctor {with a bow to Miss Pride). Miss Pride'll 
excuse me {She retreats relieved at escaping her task^) 
f know what a tip-top address she's got ready, if she 
wrote it herself, and when Pve said my say I w^t to 
read it and have her give it to me to keep. (Miss Pride 
bows, in gratified acquiescence.) My speech won t be 
correct like Miss Pride's. It won't be elegant. But I ve 
got to make it. Dear folks, I'm seventy-five years old 
to-day. I can't believe it. But I know you believe it 
for you've set out to make a kind of a celebration of it 
Not one of you here is as old as -I am. So not one of 



you's had time to learn as many tiling ] c 

been thin"king pretty seriously over the things I've learned, 
and I've come to Uie conclusion there's just one thing a 
man wants to have to remember when he comes to 
seventy-five. He wants to think over all the people he's 
made hapi)y, and he wants to remember he hasn't hurt 
anybody or given 'em pain. I can't think that last. I've 
given Jots of pain — carelessness, selfishness, hast\ 
speech — well, I can't bear to think of it. 

V\'oMEN. No, no. Doctor. 

Men. 'Tain't so. 

Doctor. If I had my life to live over again, I'd live 
it differently. I'd be kinder, that's what I'd do, just 
kinder. I might not get more book learning or more 
money. But I'd just be kind. And what I want the rest 
of you to do that haven't got so near balancing up your 
accounts is to look out for the happiness of them that live 
with you. Begin right there. Make your wives happy. 
Lug water for 'em and lay the fire, and tell 'em they're 
just as pretty as they were when they walked out brides. 
I won't preach to the women. They know what to do, 
know it better than I do, and they live up to it. 

Men. That's right. 

(Some of the women are crying softly.) 

Hen (fervently). You bet yer life. 

Doctor. Last birthday of mine, I wasn't thinking 
about myself very much. I was thinking about- Cynthia 
here, and Andrew. That was the day they were mar- 
ried. Cynthia was as pretty as a young angel in her 
white dress and syringas all over her, and Andrew looked 
like just what he was — a man strong enough to stand 
between her and all the winds that blow. 

Andrew (groaning). O my Lord! 

Cynthia. O Doctor! Doctor! 

Mrs. Timmins. There, Doctor, you've made her cry, 
the lamb. 

Doctor. So when the sun came up this morning, I 

uiu^ ^.^^' ^^ myself, "This is my birthday." I said, 

This is the anniversary of Cynthia's wedding day." 



THE LOVING CUP 21 

bu know how it is. As we grow old, we think of the 
young. The best happiness we've got left is seeing them 
happy. 

All. That's so. Never spoke a truer word. 

Doctor. I said to myself, " Cynthia and Andrew are 
the youngest couple here. We'll do something to keep 
their wedding day." ( With quick, brisk change of man- 
ner.) Nettie Snow, you've got a silver cup laid away 
somewhere among the lunch baskets and water pails. 
You bring it out and give it here. 

(Miss Snow, hardly knowing what to do, glancing at 
the other women for instruction and yet obliged to 
obey Doctor, takes the cup from under the napkin. 
Miss Pride, as if recalled to her duties, seizes it from 
her, and standing with it before the Doctor begins 
wildly. ) 

Miss Pride. Doctor Brentwood, we, the unde- 
signed \ 

Jane (irrepressibly) . Unof^rsigned. 

Miss Pride (oblivious to her). We, the ladies of 
Ginseng Pond, in view of the fact that — that — we've got 
this cup (losing all control of herself) — It's silver, Doc- 
tor, solid, an' it's got three handles an' they'll mark it 
free o' charge. 

Doctor (courteously accepting the cup). I thank 
yoUj Miss Pride. (Turning it round and admiring it.) 
My! I don't believe there's an oil man or a steel man 
or a copper man that's got a handsomer cup than this. 
Andrew and Cynthia, step out and take hands. ( Cynthia 
timidly offers her hand, but Andrew, bewildered, stares 
at the Doctor.) Why, you've forgot. This way, same 
as you did it a year ago, when Cynthia swore to love 
(puts Cynthia's hand in Andrew's), honor and obey — 
and kept her word — and Andrew swore he'd love and 
cherish. Cynthia and Andrew, this cup was meant for 
me, an old man whose day's work Is almost done. (To 
men and women.) If I could tell what it was to me to 
know you people thought enough of me to get up such a 
thing, I should be crying here— like Cynthia. But I 



it 



THE LOVIKG CUP 



want to pass the lu[> ai< u- while I'm ahve to have the 
fun of it. I want it to stand on Cynthia's and Andrew's 
table, and remind 'em an old man loved 'em — and you 
all love 'em — and they love each other. 

Women (tumitltuoiisly). But, Doctor! Doctor, you 
know ! 

Doctor (zi'antijigly). Look out! Remember our 
consultation. Remember what we said. 

Mrs. TiMMiNS (getting hold of herself). I for one 
say it's all right. 

Mrs. Pkck. It's your cup, Doctor, an' if ihat's what 
you feel to do with it 

Several Women. It's all right, I say. 

Mrs. Timmins. More'n right. It's what Doctor 
wants. 

(The Doctor, smiling on them, is holding out the cup 
to Cynthia and Andrew, who stand dazed.) 

Doctor. Here, children, take it, one of you. 

Andrew (roughly, in great emotion). Cynthy de- 
serves it. I don't. You know I don't. 

Cynthia. No, no, Andrew! Don't you say such a 
thing. 

Doctor. Ladies and gentlemen, I understand this cup 
is presented, not to Cynthia, but to Andrew and Cynthia 
together, because Andrew and Cynthia are one. 

All. Andrew an' Cynthy ! Andrew an' Cynthy ! 

Hen (hoarsely as the shouting dies). That's the 
ticket ! 

(Is appalled at his own voice in the silence and claps 
his hand over his mouth. ) 

Doctor (holding up the cup and regarding it tenderly). 
It's what they call a loving cup. It's passed round from 
hand to hand when folks are living in peace and harmony. 
It is hereby presented to Cynthia and Andrew, and 
Thanksgiving and Christmas we'll drop in on 'em and 
pass the cup round. And the day'll come when you'll 
pass it, and your children'll pass it, and say, " Remember 
old Doctor that wanted us all to live in peace." 



THE LOVING CUP 



23 



Mrs. Timmins (in high excitement) . Girls, what do 
you say? 

Women. Hurrah for Doctor ! 

Men and Women. Hurrah! Hurrah! 

Doctor (remindingly) . Hurrah for Cynthia and 
Andrew ! 

All, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

Andrew {accepting the cup awkwardly with both 
hands and passing it solemnly to Cynthia). Cynthy, if 
there's any place over to our house for a cup such as this, 
it's because you're what you be — the best woman God 
ever made. 

All {confusedly, in love with cheering). Hurrah for 
Andrew ! Hurrah for Cynthy ! Hurrah for Doctor ! 

(Cynthia has hastily pidled a wreath of cinnamon 
roses from her basket, lays it on centre of table and 
sets the cup in it.) 

Mrs. Timmins. Ain't that a cunnin' wreath? D'you 
make it, Cynthy? 

Cynthia {laughing and crying). I made it this 
mornin' to put round this. 

{Takes from her basket a half loaf of cake and sets 
it on the table beside the cup.) 

Hen {greedily). Fruit cake, by gum! 

Cynthia. It's a piece of our weddin' cake, an' I 
thought we'd have a crumb all round, an' when you tasted 
yours, Andrew, you'd remember— you'd remember 

{Breaks into sobbing.) 

Andrew {putting his arms about her)'. Don't you 
cry, Cynthy ! O lovey, don't you cry ! 
^ Hen {jumping up and down) . Virginny reel ! Vir- 
ginny reel ! 

RosiE. Janie, Hen's askin' you to dance. 

(Hen seizes Rosie's hands and kisses her boldly. 
They go laughing and scuffling to their places. Mrs. 
Timmins gives her husband a kindly reminding push 



toward Jank, and he advances, makes Jane a clumsy 

bow and offers his hand. They take their /^^ - 
Miss Gill views the scene for a moment, />/• s /.. / 
hand to her ear as if she heard a bird note, directs her 
glass to the trees, but as a man approaches her thr • 
the glass wildly aside and accepts him. Miss Sn' 
finding trouble with her narrow skirt, accepts r.. 
other. Miss Pride stands aloof, apparently superior 
to the diversion, but when a man offers his hand she 
joyously accepts. The Doctor takes Mrs. Tim m ins. 
Andrew takes Cynthia.) 

Jane {calling sharply). Cynthy V Andrew! Look 
at Cynthy 'n' Andrew! Married folks can't dance to- 
gether. 

Andrew {stopping and speaking boldly, his j^icc alujht 
with happiness). Can't they? We'll see whether they 
can't dance together, an' eat together, an' talk together, 
an' laugh together — an' live an' die together. 



VIRGINIA REEL 



Tf 



Jl* Ui« Pinero's Plays 

Price, 50 Zcnts Eacb 



Min rilANNPf ^^^y ^^ ^°^^ ^'^^^' ^^^ males, five femalea. 
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Plays two and a lialf hours. 



THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH ll^r 'lig'hl 

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A WIFE WITHOUT A SMILE F?ve*male8, four females! 
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THF DIVAI S Comedy In FIt« Aetsi Klne males, ire fMuOasi 
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